Cops rescue cops after crackdown goes awry

A team of more than 50 police officers were sent to the rescue of eight of their colleagues after a crackdown on an illegal liquor manufacturing unit turned ugly when locals roughed up the eight officers. HT reports.

A team of more than 50 police officers were sent to the rescue of eight of their colleagues after a crackdown on an illegal liquor manufacturing unit turned ugly when locals roughed up the eight officers.

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The incident happened in southeast Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area on Friday.

"The incident was reported in the afternoon after a team led by two sub-inspectors was dispatched to the Madrasi colony in the Jal Vihar area to crack down on an illegal liquor manufacturing unit," said a senior police officer.

According to the police, the team was acting on a tip-off that local residents were involved in producing illicit liquor there.

"When our team reached the spot, they were taken hostage and then assaulted by the locals. The locals gheraoed the team and started misbehaving with the officers; additional force had to be sent to rescue them. We received several distress calls from the team as well as the police control room," the officer said.

The police said they have registered a case at the Lajpat Nagar police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with obstructing police servants from performing their duty.

"We are investigating the matter," said the officer.

Meanwhile, the assaulted officers were made complainants in the case and were in the process of identifying the accused. "They were taken to AIIMS Trauma Centre where medical examination confirmed that they were assaulted," the officer added.